The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-04-27
LINCOLN'S REMAINS.
His Coffin Opened Twenty-Five
Years After His Death.
The Body Taken From the Secret
Grave and Buried.

The remains Of Abraham Lincoln and
those of his wife were taken from the secret
grave at Springfield, ILL.,, on the 15th-the
twenty second anniversary Of his death-and
buried in the north vault of the monument.
Although the public had been given to I'M
ierstand that the body Of Abraham Lincoln
was placed in the marble sarcopha-
gus which rests in the tomb where
the grave robbers left it number of years
ago. it has been known to limited number
Of persons that the grave was in some secret
place Only a few were aw are of the spot.
At the time the body arrived at Springfield,
in 1865, it was taken in charge by the Lincoln
Monument Association, which is local or
ganization. The body was in the custody Of
this association until shortly after an attempt
was made to steal it from the tomb. At that
time the body was placed in care of the Lin
coin Guards of Honor. The latter organiza-
tion was formed especially for the purpose of
preventing the remains from being taken
away by grave robbers Its ostensible pur-
pose was to hold memorial services on the an
niversary of Lincoln's death. A Springfield
dispatch gives the fc' owing particulars Of the
body's final disposT n:
A number Of Ihanics have been diligent-
ly at work abolv the north vault of the monu-
lnent for several days. When asked what
was being done they replied that some repairs
were being made No one has been admitted
to this apartment. Everything connected
with the matter has been surrounded by the
| most profound secrecy. On Tuesday the Sec
retary of the Lincoln Guards OF Honor sent
out the following notice to each member OF
the association
mine o'clock Thursday morning. April II,
has been designated by the Executive Com
mittee as the time for exhuming the remains
of Mr.. and Mrs. Lincoln for reburial. Please
be at the monument at that time. 1t is thought
any account let reporter know it."
The members of the two associations ae-
cordingly met at the monument this. morning,
entering the south vault, or place where the
Lincoln relics are kept and held consulta-
tion. In q short time a number Of
mechanics were taken in. "A door
in the door side of this room, opens into
which the obelisk rests: The passageway
makes a number of turns and an
entrance cannot be effected except through
this door. This irregular hall leads
to a recess. In this recess, almost di-
rectly under the centre at the north
base of the obelisk. were the remains OF both
Mr.. and Mrs. Lincoln. They were buried
about three feet below the surface. Lincolns
remains were placed there in November,
1873
The coffin containing the body Of Lincoln
was first taken up and carried to the room
where the relics were. There was an outside
pine box, then cedar box containing the wal
nut coffin. This coffin had an air-tight
lead Lea; lining lining T. The -, lid was Eemoyed aS3Sed,
were remarkably we'll preserved. The
clothing had not decayed, Those who knew
Mr.. Lincoln discerned his features at once
The silver plate on the coffin lid was bright
On it was inscribed the following:
abraham Lincoln, Sixteenth President,
United States. Born February II, 1909; died
April Is, 1865
General Reece, president of the Guards Of
Honor then turned over to the Lincoln
Monument Association the body of Mr..
Lincoln. A certificate declaring the body
to be that received from the Monument
Association and signed by each member
Of the Guards of Honor accompanied
the remains. The Lincoln Monument AS.
sociation made out certificate for record
that the remains were those of Abraham Lin
coin. The coffin was then sealed and taken to
the north vault. The floor had been removed
and grave eight feet long, six feet wide and
about five feet deep had been prepared. 1t
was cemented and bricked up and had ce-
ment floor. In this grave the coffin was
placed, the head resting toward the south.
TO the left of Mr.. Lincoln was placed the
coffin of Mrs. Lincoln. 1t was not opened.
An arch of brick was built over the two coffins.
Upon this arch hydraulic cement and pounded
rock were placed, forming a composition
harder than stone. The vault in which the
grave is built is the one originally intended
for the purpose. The two children are buried
in this vault